Filipina Soul

Filipino singers are great at singing English songs. But we don’t often hear non-Tagalog speakers attempt to tackle Filipino songs. So this YouTube vid is quite a rarity, in my opinion.

The original is by Parokya ni Edgar. 

Maybe this guy has a Filipina girlfriend he’s trying to impress. He says this is his attempt to sing Buloy “very badly”. Whatever his motivation, I think he actually does a pretty good job of it.

British pop group Swing Out Sister will have a concert on April 7, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila. The group, originally a trio, was formed by Andy Connell (keyboards), and Martin Jackson (drums). Corinne Drewery, a former fashion designer and model, does the vocals.

The band’s newest album, released just last month, is Beautiful Mess.

There’s still time to get tickets. You can call +63(02)911-5555. Ticket prices are P4935, P4725, P3675, P2625, P1050, and P525.

via Music-Philippines

There are two events for Filipino bloggers this April.

One is the 2008 Philippine Blogging Summit - iBlog4. This whole-day event will be held on April 26, 2008 at the Malcolm Theater, in UP Diliman’s College of Law. Registration is free. The program is as follows:

Continue reading Philippine Blogging Events in April

Here are more riddles to have fun with!

1. Pagkatapos na ang reyna’y makapagpagawa ng templo, siya na rin ang napreso (After the queen makes a temple, she imprisons herself)

2. Hindi hayop, hindi tao, nagsusuot ng plantsado. (it’s neither animal or human, but its wears newly ironed clothes)

3. Tintang puti, plumang bali, papel na berde, isinusulat ng matandang babae (white ink, broken pen, green paper, written by an old woman)

4. Manok kong pula, inutusan ko ng umaga, nang umuwi’y gabi na. (I sent my red chicken on an errand. It left in the morning, it came home at night)

5. Sa bukid nagsaksakan, sa bahay nagbunutan. (In the prairie it was stabbed; in the house it was pulled)

ANSWERS BELOW THE FOLD.

Continue reading Mga Bugtong (Filipino Riddles) Set 18

Ramiele Malubay sang her heart out with “Alone”, and she was way better than her past performances. This she did with a sore throat, too! Randy wasn’t impressed and thought her pitch was all over the place. Give the girl a break, she is sick and all y’know.

The remaining Top 9 finalists include (Clockwise from top left): Jason Castro, David Cook, Michael Johns, Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson, Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Brooke White and David Archuleta.

Watch Ramiele’s powerful rendition of “Alone” after the cut.

Continue reading A sick Ramiele Malubay sings her way into American Idol top 9

Four workshops at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan are focusing on Philippine history, more notedly “the roots of its socio-economic problems and the Filipino progressive movement’s response”.

The workshop series, titled Philippines 101, began on March 24 and will continue for the next few weeks. They are offered by Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Linking the Children of the Motherland) and the John Jay College Puerto Rican/Latin American Studies Department. Event times are 6:30 to 9:00 pm on each of the dates below. The topics are:

Workshop 1, March 24: Weaving Our Collective Story (Paghahabi ng Ating Kolektibong Kuwento)

Workshop 2, March 31: Revisiting the Past (Muling Pagbisita sa Kasaysayan)

Workshop 3, April 7: Landlords, Loopholes, and the Prevalence of Corruption (Mga Panginoong Maylupa at ang Pananatili ng Korupsyon)

Workshop 4, April 14: The Filipino People’s Response (Ang Tugon ng mga Mamamayang Pilipino)

Registration is free, but required. For more information, contact John Jay College of Criminal Justice, at phone number (212) 237-8000.

via Inquirer

Filipino bloggers who use WordPress as their blogging platform have a new community where they can interact, share tips and information, and cultivate contacts. Splashpress Media has announced the launch of WordPress Philippines.

According to J. Angelo Racoma, Editor in Chief of Splashpress Media:

… we have decided to launch WordPress Philippines, which we envision to be the premier community site for WordPress users and bloggers in the Philippines. Actually, it is likely that this would be a good place where Filipino bloggers from around the globe can mingle–yes, Filipinos are spread around the world, with about 3% of the country’s citizens living abroad, working in various professions and callings.

Read about the why’s, how’s and who’s at Splashpress Media.

* Philippine public figures pray for Aquino’s health (at China View)

* US company accused of holding back wages of Filipino workers (at AFP)

* Ratings agency: Philippine banks exposed to high credit losses (at China View)

* Power restored at Philippine airport after day of chaos (via AFP)

* The Philippine Outsourcing Dilemma (at 360 Vendor Management)

Unfortunately, it’s a true horror story.

According to a news out of Journal (translated from Tagalog), an infant died when the head got separated from the body during childbirth.

Based on the account of parents Amy and Bernabe Diaz, they could not fathom how her infant got decapitated, relating that the head even rolled on the delivery floor. The mother gave birth at the Baguio City General Hospital and Medical Center. The hospital administrator refused to comment. Authorities are still waiting on the autopsy results of the case.

How and WHY this could happen at a major hospital is beyond me.

source: Journal

Ocean Park Manila Bay, the newest pride of Philippine tourism, has become so popular that our readers have been asking us for information and contact.

So here are some very useful information:

The Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand, in Luneta,  Manila. For more information, contact +(632) 567.7777 and +(632) 567 2309.

Operating Hours
Manila Ocean Park is open from 10am – 9pm, Mondays through Sundays. Special tours may be requested and booked earlier than tour schedules. 

Entrance Fee
The Entrance Fee for adults is PHP400 (approximately US$10) and PHP350 (approximately US$9) for children.

Security Checks
Everyone entering the Park is subject to a security check. Bags, parcels and/or items shall undergo inspection before entry. 

Photography
Flash photography is not allowed as this scares the marine animals. Photography, videotaping, recording of any kind, broadcast or transmission for commercial purposes is not allowed.

Continue reading Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium information